CLIMATE SCIENCE: UNDERSTANDING THE BASICS

Carbon emissions and greenhouse gases are critical concepts in the field of climate science. Carbon emissions are the result of human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, and other industrial processes. These emissions release large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which is a primary greenhouse gas. Greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, trap heat in the Earth’s atmosphere, causing the planet’s temperature to rise. This is known as the greenhouse effect.

The Earth’s temperature is a delicate balance between the energy received from the sun and the energy reflected back into space. Greenhouse gases prevent some of this energy from escaping, causing the planet’s temperature to rise. This rise in temperature is known as global warming and is one of the biggest environmental challenges facing the world today.